Author: Elizabeth Jabejian

Culture: President attends presentation of Armenian National Music Treasury program

Elizabeth Jabejian
Panorama, Armenia
Sept 27 2017

President Serzh Sargsyan and his spouse Rita Sargsyan attended on Tuesday the presentation of the Cultural Revival Foundation-hosted Armenian National Music Treasury program, which was held at the “Vache and Tamar Manukyan” repository of ancient manuscripts of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

As the press department at the President’s Office reported, during the presentation, the Cultural Revival Foundation’s recent publications were introduced: the finalized version of the Liturgy by Makar Ekmalyan in Latin transliteration, and Zhamagirq, one of the most important musical rites of the Armenian Church, which for the first time is published in the European musical notation and in accordance with international press criteria. Both books feature musicological forewords, notes and explanations in Armenian and English.

Founder and President of the Cultural Revival Foundation Artur Janibekyan presented a mobile musical player referred to as Armenian National Music Box as the emblem of the Armenian National Musical Treasure program, which contains over 500 folk and spiritual musical pieces recorded and digitized by the Foundation. Artur Janibekyan offered the first copy of the Armenian National Musical Box to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
The huge work done to materialize Komitas Vardapet’s dream of life was presented as a gift to the great Vardapet on his birthday – September 26.

During the event, a film was presented about Armenian traditional music and the activities of the Cultural Revival Foundation. After the blessing of His Holiness Garegin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, musical fragments from Zhamagirq and the Liturgy were performed by the Yerevan State Chamber Choir, directed by Harutyun Topikyan.

Theater: Arthur Elbakyan establishes “American Theatre of Nations” theatre platform in Los Angeles

Elizabeth Jabejian
Public Radio of Armenia
Sept 23 2017
17:02, 23 Sep 2017

A new theatre platform “American Theatre of Nations” will be emerging this fall in Los Angeles. The creation of “American Theatre of Nations” pursues a very important purpose – to bring together theatre professionals from different nations who live and work in the theatre world in America according to the director of the project Arthur Elbakyan, the Broadway World reports.

The “American Theatre of Nations” will be born with Arthur Elbakyan’s “My Insane Shakespeare” performance on November 9th, 2017 at the historic Alex Theatre in Glendale, California.

The United States is a country where people from around the world live and create, and together they are all Americans. They all live, work, create, and serve one goal – to strengthen the land of dreams – the United States. And living in the United States, any representative of any nation never forgets their origin, their cultural foundation, and values, which have become a part of the wealth of the American society.

People from various nations, well-known and independent, award-winning and emerging directors, actors, authors, artists, and musicians can gather under one roof, the name of which is “American Theatre of Nations”, and share with each other their national theater’s history and modern day theatrical trends.

The world premiere of Arthur Elbakyan’s “My Insane Shakespeare” took place in 2014 at the world’s largest solo theatre festival, United Solo, in New York City. Sold out months in advance, “My Insane Shakespeare” was the festival’s bestseller and was performed three times. Elbakyan’s “My Insane Shakespeare” won the prestigious United Solo Audience award, created in partnership with Backstage Magazine. In 2016, “My Insane Shakespeare” also premiered in Montreal, Canada.

Arthur Elbakyan is a theatre, film, and television director, actor, writer, and producer. Having lived in Armenia, Russia, Europe, and the United States, Elbakyan has played over 30 leading theatre roles and has been the author and host of numerous television shows. Elbakyan was the founder of the Theatre Studio “13” and also co-founded the first independent television channel in Armenia, “AR”. Elbakyan’s passion for theatre was strong enough to bring theatre to television with his introduction of a series of television shows, “It’s Majesty Theatre”, on the National Television of Armenia, taking the audience to the unique world of the theatre and performing arts. Elbakyan has received Best Documentary Short Award at the Los Angeles Film and Script Festival. Elbakyan is an active member of the Dramatists Guild of America.

Lapshin pities Azerbaijani high ranking law enforcement officers who appeared in stupid situation due to Azerbaijani authorities

Elizabeth Jabejian 
Armenpress News Agency , Armenia
 Thursday
Lapshin pities Azerbaijani high ranking law enforcement officers who
appeared in stupid situation due to Azerbaijani authorities
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS. Alexander Lapshin, who was arrested
in Azerbaijan, has told how the Azerbaijani law enforcement officers
interrogated him and appeared in a stupid situation, ARMENPRESS
reports Lapshin wrote about this in his personal blog.
“The best investigators of Azerbaijan were involved in my case –
Colonel Kamal Talibov (the son of the former president of Azerbaijan’s
supreme court), Colonel Vugar Nasibov, chief of investigation
department, General Illar Ahmedov and Deputy Prosecutor General Rustam
Usubov. They are the best investigators in this oil-rich country. They
spoke good Russian and made unnecessary and funny quotes from the
films “Kidnapping,Caucasian Style” or “Mimino” and did everything to
persuade me that I can be saved only if I confess that I work for the
special services of Armenia and Russia. It should be noted the
emphasized hostility towards the Russian Federation during the
investigative activities. I really could never imagine that they could
bring forward such ridiculous and unfounded accusations against the
Russian Federation”, the blogger wrote.
Lapshin stressed that the Azerbaijani authorities put those high
ranking and professional policemen in a stupid situation by forcing
them to do ridiculous and useless job.
“They asked me the same question 10 times. The problem is that the
Azerbaijani authorities put those people in a stupid situation. When
high ranking policeman Colonel Talibov came to the penitentiary
institution every day like a child and asked the same question about
my “working” for the Armenian special services we just pitied him. He
probably had understood that I have nothing to do with any special
service, but it was demanded from higher echelons to launch a
demonstrative process and he did his job”, Lapshin wrote.

MSPO 2017: Azerbaijani export license a ‘matter of technicality’

Elizabeth Jabejian
Shephard Media
September 8, 2017 Friday

6th September 2017 – 12:09 GMT | by Richard Thomas in Kielce

RSS

The Orbiter 1K loitering munition, manufactured by Israel-based Aeronautics, was on display at the MSPO exhibition and conference just days after an export license to Azerbaijan for the platform had been suspended.

Azerbaijan was reported to be keen to procure the UAS, with claims recently stating that it had been used in a targeted strike against Armenian forces during live demonstrations.

Officials at the show in Kielce told Shephard that they had no comment to make, other than to say that checks were being undertaken by the Israeli Ministry of Defence, and that it is ‘just a matter of technicality’.

As reported earlier, with its unmanned systems deployed by Polish armed forces for more than 12 years, Israel-based Aeronautics looks to be adding increased emphasis in its operations in country by showcasing the Orbiters 3, 4 and 1K. 

Polish forces have used the Orbiter 2 for several years and Aeronautics officials said that the country would have no problems in integrating newer systems should Poland look to fill a portion of its huge demand for unmanned systems with their platforms.

Of the Orbiter 1K, Dany Eshchar, deputy CEO, said that they believed it was ‘a good solution for special forces’ and was ‘combat proven’. 

Proven long-standing relationships could also assist in future procurement programmes. ‘Once a customer is satisfied, it is ours to lose if they choose not to [procure our systems].’

Eschar added that he believed that the range of systems Aeronautics can provide to customer such as Poland makes it a cost-effective solution that doesn’t need to be adapted to NATO or non-NATO operators.

Described by Aeronautics as a ‘multi-mission platform’, the Orbiter 4 has been designed to fit a range of payloads dependent on mission requirements. 

This includes maritime patrol radar, cellular interception sensor, satellite communication, synthetic aperture radar and Controp’s XR EO payload.

The latest model from the Orbiter line is based on the legacy Orbiter 3 system but with upgraded capabilities such as endurance of more than 24 hours, dual mounted payloads and flight ceiling of 18,000ft.

Sports: José Mourinho praises Mkhitaryan: ‘We now understand each other’

Elizabeth Jabejian
The Guardian, UK

Aug 25 2017
• United manager admits he could have helped Armenian more last season
• Zlatan Ibrahimovic ‘won’t be ready’ to play in Champions League group
by Jamie Jackson

José Mourinho has praised Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s start to the season and admitted the forward’s progress could have been quicker last season if he and the Armenian had understood each other better.

Mkhitaryan has began United’s 4-0 wins over West Ham United and Swansea City in the No10 berth, impressing in each outing. Last term Mkhitaryan did not make his full United debut until Manchester City’s visit on 10 September and disappointed the manager enough for him to be replaced at half-time.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has rejoined Manchester United on a one-year contract, saying he had returned to the club ‘to finish what I started’
Read more

Asked about the 28-year-old’s form now Mourinho said: “He understands me and I understand him. Beginning of [last] season, if he had understood me better he would start better. If I had understood him better, probably I would have helped him in a faster way than I did.

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“But we spent a lot of time together, working together, learning each other. I know him well. He knows me well. The second part was good for him. With his talent, this season [will be] even better.”

Mourinho offered a similar analysis of Anthony Martial, who has scored in both league games after coming on as a substitute. “Again better,” said Mourinho. “When you are blessed with talent, you have to fulfil and explore it. You cannot be happy with just glimpses. That I am not going to change. I want more and more and more. He has all the qualities for that. He understands me better too.

“Our personal relationship is good. I don’t think player-manager relationship is fundamental but it is an added good thing to have a good relation. I hope he will be better this season than last.”

On Saturday Leicester City travel to Old Trafford for the late kick-off. The 2016 champions have started the season well, losing narrowly to Arsenal at the Emirates and beating Brighton at home. Mourinho said: “It is the same team as they were two seasons ago [when they were champions]. After what they did, [we could probably] could feel that they would not be champions a second consecutive season. Are they going to be champions again? Honestly, I don’t think so. All the other teams are not all going to fail.”

Mourinho welcomed the news that Zlatan Ibrahimovic has signed a one-year deal to return to the club. “He won’t be ready for the group phase of the Champions League,” he said. “No chance of that. Hopefully he can play in the knockout stage but for that we have to finish in the top two of the group.

“I don’t want to think about when he is back. I don’t even ask. I don’t speak with him or medical team. I just think he will be extra man for us in the second part of the season. The second part is normally January when the transfer window reopens.

“But I have no idea at all. I think the right way is not even to think about it. Let him do his work, step by step and come back when he is ready.”

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/aug/25/manchester-united-jose-mourinho

Traditional Armenian wedding ceremony staged at “Zvartnots” museum-reserve, turned to grandiose festive event

Elizabeth Jabejian
Panorama, Armenia

Aug 12 2017

“Weeding is a unique event in the life of every person, and everyone eagerly waits for it. Overt the time the traditions of a certain culture are transformed acquiring new features, while losing others,” the Artistic Director of “Karin” Traditional Song and Dance Ensemble Gagik Ginosyan stated ahead of the staging of Armenian traditional wedding ceremony at “Zvartnots” historical-cultural museum-reserve.

The agency for preservation of cultural heritage and the historic environment reported, the event organized at the initiative of “Teryan” Cultural foundation was aimed at reviving the forgotten traditions of the Armenian traditional wedding.

The wedding ceremony held at the Zvartnots” historical-cultural museum-reserve was choreographed by RA People’s Artist Armen Manukyan and attended not only by locals but also number of tourists wishing to get familiarized with Armenian cultural values.

According to the source, young artists Smbat Kocharyan and Anna Harutyunyan participated in a role-playing event as a groom and a bride as they themselves plan to get married and use the forgotten traditions during their wedding ceremony. 

Meanwhile, demographer Gayane Shegoyan, speaking at the event, told about her published a book on traditional Armenian wedding rituals, collecting all the traditions of the Western and Eastern Armenia.

Sports: FIBA Basketball: Bosnia & Herzegovina national basketball team beats Armenia

Elizabeth Jabejian
Xinhua, China

Aug 9 2017
Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-10 05:29:39|Editor: huaxia
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SARAJEVO, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) — Bosnia and Herzegovina’s (BiH) national basketball team win over Armenia at 98-85 here on Wednesday in the third round of pre-qualifier basketball match for the FIBA World Cup 2019.

The two teams tied 23-23 after the first quarter. The host played well, but the Armenia team consolidated with several three-pointers and after the first ten minutes of the match the score was even.

In only three minutes of the second quarter, Ismet Sejfic and Alex Renfroe build an 11-point lead for the host, until Armenia made its first goals. Coach of the BiH team called time out after which host was 13 points ahead of the visiting team. BiH outscored Armenia 29-21 in that quarter.

In the third quarter, the visiting team narrowed the gap to 5 points, but the host lead in the last 10 minutes with the result 22-16 and headed in the final phase with 13 points difference.

The two teams fought to a 25-25 in the last quarter, and Dzanan Musa’s three-pointer led BiH to win the match at 98-85.

For the host team, Dzanan Musa scored 28 points, while Ryan Boatright scored 30 points for the visiting team. Enditem

 

Armenian students succeed at the International Mathematics Competition

Elizabeth Jabejian
Public Radio of Armenia

Aug 8 2017
15:08, 08 Aug 2017
Armradio

The 24th International Mathematics Competition passed in Bulgaria from July 31 to August 6. There were 71 universities teams with 331 participants.

According to the Press Service of RA Ministry of Education and Science, Armenian participants were from Yerevan State University, American University of Armenia and Russian-Armenian (Slavonic) University. The Armenian teams won two golden, two silver, and two bronze medals.

The Yerevan State University team has occupied the 7th place which is higher than it ever did before. The highest place in previous years was the 15th.

The first place belongs to the national team of Israel, followed by the Saint-Petersburg State University and Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology teams.